What if we fail in 1 Subject in CA Exam (Foundation, Inter & Final)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) conducts CA exams every year. To become a Chartered Accountant, candidates are required to qualify the three levels of CA exams: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate and CA Final. Since CA exams are considered to be among the toughest exams, what if I fail in one subject? This question is very often in the back of a student’s mind appearing in the exam.

Latest: CA Foundation Registration May 2025 - Direct Link

Admission Alert: Jindal Global School of Banking & Finance accepting applications

New: Unlock 10% OFF on PTE Academic. Use Code: 'C360SPL10'

In this article, Careers360 answers this common question asked by several CA candidates i.e. what if we fail in one subject in CA Foundation? What if we fail in one subject in CA Inter? What if we fail in one subject in CA Final?
Find out the answers right here in this article. about whether the candidate will be considered qualified in such a situation or do they need to reappear in all subjects again? If yes then when can they reappear?

Let us look at some of the basic questions asked by students who fail to secure passing marks in 1 subject in the CA exam.

Will I be considered qualified even if I fail in one subject in the CA exam?

To qualify the CA exams at each level, you need to secure a minimum of 40% marks in each subject and an aggregate of 50% marks. Hence, if you fail in one subject, you will not be considered as a qualified candidate.

Can I reappear in the CA Foundation/CA Inter/CA Final exam even after failing in one subject?

Yes, you can reappear in the CA exams exam till the time your registration period is valid. ICAI does not place any restrictions on the number of attempts. In case the registration validity runs out, then candidate have to revalidate their registration before appearing for any of the CA exams.

Can I reappear in the subject in which I have failed? Or do I need to appear in all subjects?

To qualify in the CA Foundation/Inter/Final, you have to pass all the papers with the requisite marks in one sitting. So you need to appear in all the papers in the next attempt, even if you fail only in one paper.

Quick Links-

CA Foundation Pass percentage 2023

CA Inter Pass Percentage 2023

CA Final Pass Percentage 2023

When can I reappear in the CA exam?

One can reappear as many times for CA Foundation/Inter/Final provided the registration is valid. To make it more understandable, suppose you appeared in the CA Foundation 2023 June session and could not qualify. Then in such a case you can either appear in the following December session exam or in any of the upcoming sessions till your CA Foundation registration is valid.

Points to remember -

• You can reappear in CA exams till your registration is valid

• You will not be allowed to register for next CA level, unless you clear all the subjects in the preceding level with minimum passing marks.

CA Exam Passing Criteria

ICAI has pre-fixed minimum passing criteria for the CA Foundation/Inter/Final. All candidates must clear the subjects with minimum 40% marks in each subject and an aggregate of 50% in total. Only once candidates clear the preceding level will they be allowed to appear for the subsequent level of CA.

Preparation tips for CA Foudation/Inter/Final Exams

Since you will be reappearing in the CA exam, some the basic preparation tips to keep in mind are-

Understand the Exam Pattern Clearly

Details related to the mode of exam, number of questions asked, marking scheme and related details are mentioned under the exam pattern. ICAI officially defines the paper pattern and the ICAI result is released according to the marking scheme defined in the paper pattern.

Make Sticky Notes/ Flash Cards

If you are finding any topic difficult to understand and learn, try to make use of colorful sticky notes or flashcards. Using these tools is an effective way of organizing the workflow and also helpful in remembering topics. Flash cards and sticky notes are strategic ways of recalling things/ topics during study times.

Quick Links

Best books for CA Foundation

Best CA Inter Books

Practice Mock Tests/ Sample Papers

Mock tests and sample papers can add teeth to your exam preparation. For example, you can improve accuracy as well as improve your average question solving time by practicing mock tests and sample papers.

Quick Link:

CA Foundation Sample Papers

CA Final Study Material

Parting Tip

Above all, do not lose hope even if you have failed in any one subject of the CA exam. With the right preparation strategy and time management you can definitely achieve success.